Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church,
Where do you see Jesus? Do you see Jesus? It's okay to hesitate in your response. We Lutherans rightly hesitate to explain everything about God as it seems almost arrogant to claim how God is working in our lives. Alternatively, perhaps we don't feel worthy or spiritual enough for Jesus to work in specific ways in our lives. Nevertheless, Jesus says, "I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The former Lutheran Hour speaker, Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, once said that churches can sometimes feel like museums, and sermons more like history classes. We hear about Jesus in a similar way that someone might learn facts about George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. We appreciate Jesus' "contribution" to Western civilization, our personal values, and even our salvation, in the same way we admire Lincoln's leadership or Washington's integrity. While I love museums and am something of a history buff, religion, Christianity, and Jesus are not merely things of the past. The cross does not belong in a museum. Jesus is changing lives now. The best is yet to be written. Jesus' words, "I am with you always," aren't mere sentimentality. Jesus is alive, and He really is with you, whether you're lying in bed or walking on the street.
At their retreat in June, the Mt. Calvary council adopted the mission motto, "Meet Jesus, Follow Jesus, Serve Central Phoenix with Jesus." Come meet Jesus. This is a bold claim, as we are stating that we have personally met Jesus and know where to find Him. We are guaranteeing that others will meet Jesus if they come to church. Such a claim might seem quite bold, even arrogant. I once saw a billboard that read, "Pray to talk to Jesus, text and drive to meet him." The message was clear: do not text and drive. The implication was that you have to die to meet Jesus. To the contrary, we are saying that you can meet Him on Sunday mornings at Mt. Calvary.
Where? Our relationship with Jesus reaches its peak in the Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus says, in reference to the bread and wine, "This is my body, and this is my blood." We touch the Risen Jesus. Like "doubting" Thomas, we put our hands in the side of Jesus and exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" This is "our theology" of the real presence. It's simply realizing that our prayers, "Come Lord Jesus," have been answered. On Sunday mornings, we actually meet Jesus. When the pastor brings communion, he brings nothing less than Jesus. We could go on. Jesus says His words are life now and always. We hear from Jesus every Sunday. He is speaking to you. Jesus has authorized words of forgiveness to be spoken in His name. We hear these words on Sunday too. Jesus is fully human. When we meet another human, we encounter them in their humanity through the humanity of Jesus. All parties in any face-to-face human encounter share Jesus. They have Jesus in common in a world of division. This leads us to follow Jesus and serve with Jesus.
Blessings for the week ahead,
Rev. Kurt Hellwig